Life-preserver.



Hu. 664,395. Patented Dec. 25, |900. H. J. ENNIS.

un: PRESI-:nvm

(Application led Apr. 19, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 664,395. Patented Dec. 25, |900.

| H. J. ENNIS.

LIFE PRESERVER.

(Application led Apr. 19, 1900.) (No Modal.) 2 Shaajsf-Sheet 2.

- UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

HENRY J'. ENNIs, 0E WASHINGTON-DISTRICT 0F coLMEIA, AssIGNoR rro GEORGE MoGovERN, F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. L

VLIFE-PRESERVER.

I SPECIFIQATIO forming' part of Letters Patent No. 664,395, dated December .25, 1900.

Appiication filet April 19. 1900.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern. i

-Be it known that I, HErIRY J. ENNIS, acitizen of the United States, residing at Washingtonin the District of Colu mbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life- Preservers; and I do declareV the following to l be a, full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and Io Vuse the same. i y l My invention relatesI to certain novel improvements in life-pres'ervers, and more particnlarly to that class wherein the preserver is combined with a' bathing-suit or other article of wearing-apparel; and the object of the invention is, primarily, tio-provide a pneu# matic life-preserver with 4means for automatic ination, and, secondly, to provide an article of wearing-apparel with a pneumatic life-.pre-

zo server capable of automatic iniation.

To these ends the invention consists in a pneumatic life-preserver adapted to be automatically inflated.

The invention further consists in a pneumatic life-preserver, in combination with a cartridge or other suitable holder containing a charge of compressed air or gas arranged to' iniate the preserver.

It also consists of a pneumatic life-pre- `3o server, in combinationwith a cartridge or holder containing a charge of calcio carbid, to which water may be added to produce acety lene gas for the purpose of automatically lin`` Hating the preserver at will. .My invention further consists in-the construction, combination, and arrangementof the several elements of the device, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.4

In the accompanying drawings the same reference characters indicate-the same parts of the invention.

v Figure l isa perspective view, partly in section,`of .my improved life-preserver' as it appears in use and withtheip'reserver shown deflated. I Fig. 2 is asimilar view with 'the the cartridge-indation princlplecau be appreserver represented as being inflated .Y Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thepreser'ver de'- v tached lfromnthe' bathing-suit.j Fig. 4 isa 5oV similar view of the preserver constructed in Serial No. 19,527. (No model.)

the form of an ordinary waistcoat `or vest. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the air or gas cartridge. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the car bidcartridge. Fig. 7 shows another form of the carbid-cartridge. i

A designates an ordinary bathing-suit, and secured thereto by stitching, as at a, is an in fiatable life-preserver B. This preserver B may be of any suitable size, shape, and material to correspond to the use to which it is v to be put, and it is provided with a' neck or tube b, in which is secured .an internallythreaded sleeve or collar b', or, if desired, the neck or tube may be dispensed with and the sleeve or collar secured directly in the body C designates the cartridge or holder, and it is provided with an externally-threaded stem c, so that it may be detachably connected to thefcollar b'. This cartridge is provided with a valve c' to retain the charge of compressed air or gas in the cartridge, and when the latter is attached to the life-preserver the valve may Tbe'withdrawn from its seat to allow the confined air or gas to escape into thepreserver and inflate it. In the form of cartridge shown in Fig. 6 the cartridge is divided into two compartments separated/by the valve o', and one of these compartments is adapted to contain the carbid and the other a small amountV of water, which when brought into contact with the carbid causes acetylene to form, which escapes into the preserver and automatically inates it. substituted the rubber check-valve d for the screw-valve c,'aud the cartridge contains the carbid alone, so that when the preserver and In Fig. 7 I have attached cartridge are submerged, as in the instance of a person falling or jumping overboard, the pressure of the water would force the check-valveinward, and the water com-` ing in contact with the carbid generates the acetylene, which inates the preserver, the I pressureof the gas forcingA the valve outward a againstits seat and confining the gas.

Of 'course it will be readily understood that IOO my invention in the best form now vlrnoWn to me; but obviouschang'es may bev made in the details without departing from the spirit of what I claim as new and useful, and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s;-

1. As anew article of'manufacture, a lifepreserver comprising a collapsible impe-rmeable belt provided with a single opening', and

. a cartridge charged with liquefied gas and de- -tachably connected with said belt in said opening, said cartridge being provided with for the purpose set forth.

2; The'.v inilating-cartridge for 'use in connection with life-preservare and analogous buoyant bodies havin-g a single opening, said cartridge having a valve adapted to be closed by the pressureof theJiqueied intlating me- 1 dium, and having a screw-threaded mouth,

and a pressure-button for opening said valve; for the purpose' Set fortii.

` 3. The combination with an inflatable vesl sel of an integral detachable cartridge adapt# ed to have its body portion Whollyvinserted within said vessel; and havin-g oneeild open# ing into the vessel and the' other opening into" -'the atmosphere,l for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with an inflatable ves? sel, of an integral detachable cartridge adapt1 l edto have its body portion wholly inserted lwithin said vessel, and means for establishing communication 'between said vessel'and cartridge, for the purpose set forth. a self-closing valve having a pressure-button,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand'in presence of two subscribing witnesses.'

AHENRY J. ENNIS.

`Witnessesr: i

S. A. TERRY, GEORGE MoGovsnN., 

